Finding the best curling iron can kind of feel like trying to find a unicorn—it needs to be both magically transformative and simple to use, which is not exactly an easy-to-find combination. A good version performs well with your hair type, allows for versatile styling, holds up over time and doesn’t singe your strands in the process. And yes, they do exist.
But there are so many factors to consider when choosing one: You’ve got to decide the type that’ll work best for you (whether a curling wand or iron), the material, the temperature settings and the barrel size. With the right tool, you’ll save time and have fewer false starts with uneven, sad-looking curls or waves; you’ll save money because there’ll be no need to buy extra tools or take trips to the salon; and you won’t sacrifice the health of your hair.
When curating this list of best curling wands and irons, we took several variables into account: hair type and length, the ability to alter temperature, how easy the tool is to manipulate and the looks it helps you achieve—from tight coils to flatiron curls to artfully tousled beachy waves. With these top models, you’ll end up with polished or textured, perfectly styled hair, and will shave minutes off your beauty prep routine. Here are our expert-approved picks.
- Best Curling Iron Overall: T3 Curl ID 1.25-Inch Smart Curling Iron
- Best 1-Inch Curling Iron: GHD Classic Curl Curling Iron
- Best Curling Iron For Fine Hair: T3 SinglePass Curl 1-Inch Curling Iron
- Best Curling Iron For Thick Hair: Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Extra Long Curling Iron
- Best Curling Iron For Long Hair: Bio Ionic Long Barrel Styler
- Best Curling Iron For Short Hair: Ohuhu 5-in-1 Curling Iron Wand Set
- Best Curling Iron For Beach Waves: Beachwaver S1 Rotating Curling Iron
- Best Curling Iron For Frizz-Free Curls: BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron
- Best Affordable Curling Iron: Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron
Best Curling Iron Overall
A Tool That Gives Voluminous, Long-Lasting Curls Without Damage
It can be difficult to know what temperature setting is right for your hair, but this wand has nine personalized heat settings and smart-touch technology. What that means is that the temperature auto-adjusts to your hair profile when you input your hair type, so you don’t end up with a weak, droopy curl or fried, crispy hair. Depending on your hair texture and whether you have color-treated or chemically-processed hair, this iron customizes heat so you have all-day (or all-night) curls or waves and less damage. Reviewers love that they can execute a full head of amazing curls in just 10-15 minutes that last for days. To note: It’s got a bigger barrel at 1.25 inches, but despite the bigger size, reviewers say the curls last and don’t drop.
What you’ll love:
- No guesswork to decide best heat setting
- Holds curl well
Keep in mind:
- Power button can get pressed accidentally while styling
Best 1-Inch Curling Iron
Perfect-Every-Time Curls Without Hair Damage
"This is my absolute favorite iron,” says Brooke Jordan, co-owner and salon director at Brooklyn-based salon The Bird House. “It’s super functional—it’s ceramic so it’s less likely to cause hair damage, and it heats up in seconds,” she says. “It glides smoothly so it doesn't pull or snag the hair like some other irons, and it gives a long-lasting curl.” To note: This iron doesn’t have multiple heat settings like some others. Instead, it uses proprietary technology to detect a hair-safe temperature of 365 degrees across the iron so you don’t have to guess how much heat will work best. In particular, users love that it heats quickly and consistently produces bouncy, defined curls.
What you’ll love:
- Heats in just 25 seconds
- Goes into automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes
- Doesn’t pull out or snag hair
Keep in mind:
- Only has one heat setting
- Some say curls could last longer
Best Curling Iron For Fine Hair
Long-Lasting Volume For Limp Locks
Fine hair is vulnerable to breakage, so you want a curling iron that can meet the needs of silky-yet-delicate strands. This model has a custom-blend ceramic barrel that’s easy on hair, yet it gets hot enough to hold a curl after just one pass—meaning no extra heat damage from multiple attempts. In fact, reviewers say it creates curls that last, even without hairspray. The brand’s CeraGloss barrel glides smoothly, so it won’t snag and stretch hair; it heats up quickly and has an adjustable temperature; and it’s lightweight and arm-friendly. Another key standout: Users love that there are no buttons to mistakenly turn it off while using it, which can be frustrating when you realize you’re putting in effort but not getting optimal heat. Instead, the iron is turned on and off by the smart twist dial on the end, which also changes the five heat settings. The T3 SinglePass comes in both a 1-inch and 1.25-inch barrel size.
What you’ll love:
- Styles smoothly without snagging
- Heats up quickly
- One hour auto shutoff
Keep in mind:
- Higher price tag
Best Curling Iron For Thick Hair
A Pick That Keeps Heavy Hair From Falling Flat
This titanium styler is a veritable workhorse. It heats up to 430 degrees, and the barrel is two inches longer than most other irons, so it allows thick hair to spread over the barrel for even heat. “The Hot Tools 24K Curling Iron with an extended barrel works especially well to accommodate long and thick hair lengths,” says Nataya Smalls, a hairstylist at Christopher Noland Salon. “It gets exceptionally hot and creates long-lasting curls that won’t drop or go flat.” This model allows you to create an ultra-defined curl in one pass instead of having to curl the bottom half and top half of hair separately, as is the case with other, shorter-barreled irons that can’t manage thick tresses. A couple features that make this iron especially user-friendly: It has a rotating cool tip so you won’t burn your fingertips, and it comes with a heat-resistant mat so you won’t singe your countertop. To keep in mind: The clamp is much shorter than the barrel because it’s only intended to secure hair, but this feature bothers some. This model comes in two barrel sizes: a 1-inch or 1.25-inch.
What you’ll love:
- High heat that distributes well on the barrel
- 8-foot swivel cord for extra reach
Keep in mind:
- The extended barrel can require practice to maneuver well
- The temperature control dial can be easily jostled
Best Curling Iron For Long Hair
An Efficient Styler For Making Waves On Longer Hair
Those with long hair know that maintaining long-lasting curl volume is a struggle. This top-rated curling iron is a professional favorite, and it receives top marks from curling newbies for its ease of use. “This is the best curling iron that I’ve used over the years,” says Savone. “It heats up quickly and reaches 430 degrees, and it has a longer barrel than most curling irons, which allows longer hair to curl faster.” The ionic technology promises to lock in moisture and seal the hair cuticle (buh-bye frizz), and well-distributed heat creates uniform, droop-free curls from root to end. This lightweight-but-sturdy model is also equipped with thoughtful details. The longer barrel gives extra reach and allows you to more easily style the back of your head. It has a nine-foot swivel cord for ease of movement, and it has a temperature lock feature so you can’t mistakenly press buttons—and change temperatures—while curling.
What you’ll love:
- Comes in both a 1-inch or 1.25-inch barrel
- Creates high-shine curls
Keep in mind:
- Some say the clamp doesn’t grip hair tightly
Best Curling Iron For Short Hair
Effortless Curls On Cropped Cuts And Shoulder-Skimming Lengths
“For shorter hair, sometimes I prefer styling wands because you can wrap short hair around the iron a little better and with more control than with a full curling iron,” says hairstylist Cristina Savone, owner of Hair + Co in Rye, New York. “Finding a wand with interchangeable heads is the best way to tackle different size curls.” Here’s why the Ohuhu tourmaline wand is a standout: It offers five easily interchangeable barrel shapes ranging from .35-inch to 1.25-inch to create different curl types depending on the look you’re going for. The ceramic coating of the barrel can help to reduce damage and increase shine on cropped styles. This fast-heating iron takes just 30 seconds to reach one of two temperature settings—356 degrees or 410 degrees—so it works whether you have baby-fine, fragile hair or a thick and textured mane. Pro tip: Savone suggests using a heat protective glove (included in this set) to protect fingers from burns if you’re new at curling. Don’t forget that this is a wand, so it doesn’t have a clamp.
What you’ll love:
- Affordable price tag
- Versatile, easy-to-change attachments
Keep in mind:
- Doesn’t come with a storage bag for all the parts
- No clamp
Best Curling Iron For Beach Waves
A Foolproof Pick For Getting Perfectly Imperfect Beach Hair
There are few hair products out there that have a cult following like the Beachwaver. That’s because this game-changing tool is so easy to use that even the most inexperienced hot tool user can create covetable curls. How it works: Clamp and secure the 1-inch ceramic barrel at the base of your hair and hold the arrow button to start the rotation. To stop rotation, you release the button, hold for three seconds and then open the clamp to slowly release the curl. Curling veterans and novices alike should in theory be able to create three different styles—defined curls, relaxed waves and glamorous waves. Additional key details include adjustable heat settings from 290-410 degrees, dual-rotation arrow button control, and a 30-minute auto shut-off.
What you’ll love:
- Small clamp doesn’t create kink marks
- Works for all hair types
Keep in mind:
- Might require a learning curve
Best Curling Iron For Frizz-Free Curls
A Tool For A Smooth, Flyaway-Free Look
For a model that boasts serious heat (up to 450 degrees) and is built for speed, look no further than this titanium iron with ceramic-coated barrel. “I find that I can create curls quickly with this iron, and it produces curls with staying power,” says Jordan. “It comes in various barrel widths—1-inch, 1.25-inch and 1.5-inch—so that you can choose which works best for your hair length and the look you’re trying to achieve.” Users love that it distributes heat evenly, it slides smoothly through hair without pulling and it’s lightweight so it won’t cause arm fatigue.
What you’ll love:
- High heat defines curls
- Easily maneuverable 8-foot, fabric-wrapped swivel cord
Keep in mind:
- The tip can be hot to the touch
- The temperature button is easy to accidentally turn down
Best Affordable Curling Iron
A Budget Option That Produces High-Impact Results
Whether you want chic beach waves, glamorous curls or something in between, this budget curling iron is a solid pick. It’s available in five barrel sizes—0.5-, 0.75-, 1-, 1.25- and 1.5-inch—and has 30 heat settings to make it work for a wide variety of hair types and textures. (Keep in mind stylists advise always starting on a low setting.) There’s also a practical cool-tip feature on the end so you can hold the iron and not singe your fingertips while styling.
What you’ll love:
- Heats up quickly
- Auto-off feature for safety
Keep in mind:
- The barrel may be too short for those with longer hair
- Buttons are inconveniently placed
